Chapter 106: Aftershocks
"…" Rei said opening her eyes. Staring in front of her was a blank ceiling. Blinking and feeling around with her limbs a little, she concluded she was in a bed. Turning her head to look around, it appeared to be a hospital room.
'…I feel sore…' she thought slowly sitting up. Moving her hands to her eyes, she rubbed them feeling cobwebs.
'How did I get here?' she pondered moving her hands away. Opening her eyes and looking at them, they appeared fine.
'I was waiting to engage in battle with the Angel…there was video feed…then…everything became black.'
"…" Ayanami said not finding any conclusion of what happened. Feeling tired, she lied back down.
'This has…happened before,' she thought staring at the ceiling again. 'Consumed by an emotion I could not control...the Eva takes over...lose consciousness...awake not knowing what transpired till after the fact.'
'…did you…enjoy it?' her second self whispered in her head.
'…?' Rei thought a little confused and blinking. '...enjoy it?'
'…Yes…you defeated another…of your kind.'
'I was not aware that we did...I lost consciousness before engaging with the Angel.'
'…it was…a victorious win…you should be…proud.'
'…?' Ayanami reacted blinking with more confusion. Her second voice had never made statements to her like this before.
'…you are…congratulating me?'
'Of…course…please sit up…' the second voice asked politely.
Still confused on what it was saying, the First Child slowly sat up. About to lean back, she felt a hand on her back that made her blood run cold. Looking up, a slew of carnage and bloodshed littered the room and the bed. Slowly looking down, enlarged inners of various organs while piled on top of her bed sheets. All of them had various bite and chew marks on them. Smelling the nauseating stench of blood all around her, she immediately threw up on the bed.
"...!?" Rei said coughing and wheezing hard. The more she breathed in, the more sick she felt inside out.
'…oh no…to do that on such a feast…' it said next to her.
"…!?" Ayanami said feeling something morbidly threatening next to her. Slowly looking up and to her left, a grotesque figure was standing next to her. With many black-red eyes and too many demented mouths, it started at her.
'MAKESITABSOLUTELYDIVINE!' the creature viciously screamed at her.
"…!?" Rei said shooting up from lying down. Hyperventilating and looking around with frightened eyes, there was nothing wrong. No bloodbath or gore was around. No strong iron scent in the air or the feeling of a vile presence. Feeling a small amount of sweat on her forehead and back, she slowly calmed herself down.
'…a nightmare?' she thought slowly lying back down. Taking deep breaths and breathing them out, she turned her head to the right.
"…?" the First Child said seeing a rectangular box on the night stand.
Seeing that her name was on the tag of it, she blinked at it. Curiosity slowly grabbed her as she reached out slowly for it. Grasping it, nothing happened to her or around her. Sitting up in her bed, she placed the box in her lap. Looking at it, the tape had been cut down the middle.
Slowly pushing the folds out, she opened it up. Inside she found a few things. All of them seemed like little knickknacks that reminded her of doing something similar. However, there were some items that made her ponder. Especially the ones that she liked. Looking a bit further, there was a small card. Opening it up and reading it, the corners of her mouths instantly turned up.
"…" Ayanami said smiling a little and re-reading the card again. It seemed to make her feel tingly inside as if the message on it made her feel better and warm. Recognizing what the box was, she held it closer to her wanting to see someone.
"…!?" Toji said opening his eyes wide. The familiar sounding girl crying out in the background in his dream shook him. Sitting up from where he was, the room that he was in looked familiar.
'This is…my old room,' he thought looking around it and recognizing his stuff. There was others that weren't his but knew who they belong to.
"Hey! Where are ya?" he shouted hearing the room's door open. The crying got a little louder as he quickly moved to the door. Reaching it and looking outside his room, the sound was coming from down a hallway. Rushing down it, the girl's balling increased in volume. At the end was an opening to the living room. Turning into it, he saw what was in the room.
'…no…' Toji stated in his mind. In denial, he shook his head side to side seeing the hanging figure from the ceiling fan.
'No-no-no-no-no-no.'
"Big…big brother!" a small girl crying on the floor saw him. Getting up, she ran to him. Kneeling down, the Fourth Child embraced her.
"Mommy…she…she isn't saying anything! Did I do something bad?"
"No…ya didn't…ya didn't do anything wrong," he stated quietly trying to comfort her. "She…she is just…"
"Damn it woman! I said get my drink!" an older man shouted from the other side of the room. "Are you defying me you skank?"
"…!?" Toji said in shock. Looking up, he watched a silhouette of a man slowly get up. Turning around, he faced the woman hanging from the ceiling. He started to unbuckle a belt.
"Do I have to discipline you again you airhead klutz!?" the man yelled as the hanging person just swayed a little.
'No…no…stop this…no!' he thought holding on to his little sister as she continued to cry.
"Damn you bitch! I'll show you who is the head of this household and teach you some respect!" the person yelled again. With the belt off, he then proceeded to belt the hanging person. Each contact of the weapon toward the female corpse only made bruises on the skin. A couple of strikes broke skin as it fling blood across the room.
"…stop it…' the male pilot asked cringing from each belt strike.
"…Stop it…" the little girl cried harder holding on to him.
"…STOP IT…" he stated as the man continued his demeaning shouts and beating.
"…STOP IT!…STOP IT!…STOP IT!" he shouted louder and louder. Looking at both adults in front of him, there was a third figure grinning wide behind them.
"I. SAID. STOP. IT. YOU. BASTARD!" Toji yelled out loud and jolted up awake.
"…!?" the doctor and nurse said. Both were standing in front of his bed and looked startled. The doctor cleared his throat to get the male pilot's attention. Seeing his eyes dart around a little and breathing hard, they slowly made contact with the medical person's eyes.
"Are…you okay Pilot Suzuhara?"
"…" he said feeling sweat dripping down his forehead and back.
'What the hell…was that?' he thought looking around the room.
"Pilot Suzuhara?"
"…y-yes…" Toji said putting his hands to his head. "I was having…a nightmare."
"So I could see. Would you like to be alone for a little bit before we do our examination?"
"…" Toji said plopping back on his bed. "Examination for—!?"
Looking up, there was a hanging contraption that had several fixed syringes on it. About to move away, he found that he was tied to an operating table. Feeling a morbid hand touch him, he slowly looked up to who belonged to the hand. It was a familiar figure with black-red eyes.
'FeElThErUsHoFtHaTeMoTiOn…SaViOr It,' an evil and vile aura came and surrounded him. 'BECAUSEWE'LLDOIT…AGAIN…AGAIN…AGAIN!'
"…!?" the Fourth Child reacted bolting out of bed and falling off. Hitting the floor, the IV stand went with him. Brushing off the pain from getting hit, he started scooting backwards in a panic. The more he pushed back, the calmer he got from feeling himself cool down. Stopping and breathing hard, he tried to figure out what he was dreaming about.
'I guess I need to stop horror genre all together' he thought rubbing his shoulder that got hit. Looking around and seeing that he was in a hospital room that looked familiar, he guessed he was at NERV's medical facility. Sighing in relief, he looked up.
'...huh...what is that?'
He noticed a small box on the nightstand. Standing up and picking up the IV stand, he slowly went toward it. Poking it a few times, nothing happened. Opening it carefully, nothing shot out. Looking inside, his mood suddenly changed from seeing the contents. Looking at the items inside, he felt his spirits rise up. Feeling something like a card, he pulled the one item out. Seeing it to be a card, something of a photo fell out of it. Catching picture in mid-air, he looked at it.
'…whoa…' Toji thought feeling heat on his face.
"…" Asuka said opening up her eyes slowly. Looking around in a tired gaze, she closed her eyes again. They shot open and stared at the person that was lying in bed next to her.
"Oh. Morning deary," an adult woman said. Turning her eyes away from a magazine, she smiled at her.
"Did you sleep well?'
"…m-mama?…"
"Yes?"
"What...what happened?"
"The Angel was defeated."
"It was destroyed?"
"Yes. You and your team killed it marvelously!" the redheaded woman stated with a bright smile. It caused the teen to look at her with wonder then ponder a thought out loud.
"W-Where did you go?"
"Where? I have been here with you silly," Kyoko stated placing her hand on the Second Child's head.
"'Hmm," the old woman mentioned then placed her forehead against the redheads. "You don't seem to have a fever."
"…" Asuka said blinking. Despite not being able to formulate words from who she was staring at, something did not feel right. In her peripheral vision, there was something standing at the end of the bed.
"Are you feeling okay honey?"
"…who…who is that?"
"Oh," her mother stated and turned toward the person. "That's hubby deary. Why?"
"…!?" the Second Child responded slowly turning her head toward the person at the end of the bed. Letting out a stuttering intake of air, she squirmed to sit up. The person was a man that had been savagely stabbed, cut open, and his eyes ripped out. His clothes were heavily stained with blood as the bed sheets at the end of the bed were spotted heavily.
"…what…what happen to…papa?"
"He was caught being unfaithful…remember Asuka…all men are dirty minded. They will…go after any woman with lust intent. We must mold…shape them…correct them…show them their place."
"…I…understand mama…isn't this a bit-" the redhead started to say when an alarm clock blared near her ear.
"…!?" she said opening her eyes and sitting up. Looking around quickly, she was in her room in Misato's apartment. Blinking and looking down at the alarm clock still blaring, she slowly pressed the snooze button.
'…a dream…' Asuka thought to herself looking at her bed. There was no second person on her bed and her mother was nowhere to found. Shaking her head and holding her head, she slowly stood up.
'I must be still groggy from that Angel battle,' she stated in her mind heading toward her door. 'Wonder what happened after I blacked out?'
Putting a hand on the door handle, she slid it open. Taking one tired step forward, she immediately froze. Horror ripped through her as her eyes widen with fear. The living room had become alive as every furniture and electronic appliance was squirming, pulsating, and bleeding out crimson. Even the floor was wiggling underneath her feet making her insides tighten. Bile shot up from her stomach as she expelled everything onto the floor.
'AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH! IT BURNS! IT BURNS!' a mouth on the floor nearby started screaming in pain.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING…!?" Asuka shouted then suddenly stopped feeling her blood freeze over inside. Shaking uncontrollably, she willed herself to look above her head. A grotesque and dark figure was above her head. Its various black-red eyes and vicious mouths grinned at her.
'WeLcOmE…hOmE…hhhhhoooonnnnnn#$^% #$!EEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYY! #$% #$^' it spoke dementedly then murderously and monstrously screeched in her face.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" the Second Child shouted waking up and sitting up. Breathing fast and heavy, she looked around with frightened eyes. Finding herself in a hospital room and recognizing it, the space made her start to calm down. Seeing that she was in a bed, she put a hand on her head trying to slow down her breathing.
"…god damn it…" she muttered to herself trying to shake off the chills she from still feeling fear. "Damn him and his mind tricks…but…what the hell happened?"
"If I remember correctly, everything up to engaging with the Angel is clear…yet…I passed out afterwards?" the redhead stated out loud then laid back on the bed. "Did we win?"
"Gah...I don't know," she said turning her head to the right and saw something on the nightstand. "...huh?"
It was a small box. Reaching over and grabbing it, she sat up. Placing it in her lap and shaking it a little, small rumbling sounded as if there were items inside. Slowly opening, she recognized the contents. Feeling her mood starting to get better, she saw a card inside. Looking at it, she smiled brighter.
At school, lunch period started. As much of the students left, a couple stayed behind. Sitting next to each other at the front row, Shinji and Rana got out their bento boxes.
"Do you think the others will be okay?" she asked standing up.
"As Dr. Akagi stated, they only passed out. They are physically stable," he said slowly standing up. Hearing two people approach them, it was the Class Rep and Kensuke.
"Greetings Ms. Horaki and Mr. Aida. Can we help you with something?"
"Hi. Are they doing okay?" Hikari asked seeing both of them nod.
"All three are doing okay. The doctors say they should come around any day now," Rana stated.
"Was the last Angel battle that intense?" Kensuke asked.
"Based on what happened, it was more difficult than previous ones," the Third Child answered stoically and blinked.
"That would have been cool to see," the bespectacled student mentioned with a sigh.
"…" Rana said giving a small smile and feeling goosebumps on her arms.
"It was…a spectacle of a battle sir," Shinji said only blinking again. "On a side note, the boxes were delivered."
"Thank you Ikari," the Class Rep said smiling.
"Thanks man," Kensuke said smiling. As the two excused themselves, the twins were only ones left in the classroom.
"Those three have been out for a while, haven't they?" Rana asked.
"Indeed."
"Are we going to visit them after school?"
"Yes. They are awake now."
"…how do you know?" she asked placing her bento in one hand and wrapping her free arm around his free arm. She began walking forward as he matched her stride and speed.
"I was told," he said as both reached the classroom door.
"By whom?" she asked fearing of who could have told him. Instead of answering, he stopped and pulled out his phone. Waking the screen up, he showed her the message that was on it. A large sense of relief came over her as both left the classroom and went down the stairs.
"That is a relief."
"It is?" he asked putting the mobile away.
"I thought it told you."
"He did not tell me about the other pilots condition…he has told me a name that he wants to be referred to now."
"…it named itself?…I thought evil one has been working fine."
"He was quite talkative the last time I visited the base," he said as both reached the school grounds.
"Saying morbid things?"
"That and then some."
"Figures…so," the female twin said. She lead him to a bench on the main school grounds. "What did it name itself?"
"It asked to be called Sid."
"Sid?" she asked looking at him. "Did he state why?"
"He asked me to figure out why he chose that word," Shinji replied as both reached the bench and sat down. The female twin sat right next to him.
"…he can't just tell you, can he?" Rana mentioned with deadpan face. Both put their lunchboxes on the table and opened them to begin eating.
"Appears not."
"Did you guess?"
"I did."
"Was it right?" she asked seeing him nod his head. Thinking about it, she whispered her guess into his hear. Seeing him nod, she gave a small smile for getting it right. At the same time, thinking about what she guessed made her insides tighten. A wave of disgust and denial surged through her making her start to shake.
"Are you well Miss Rana?" he asked feeling her shake sitting next to her.
"…no…I don't feel good," she said breathing a little faster.
"Are you in need of medicine?"
"…no…medicine won't cure it," Rana stated holding onto him and feeling a bit of relief.
"...I see..." he said glancing slowly at her. She looked up to see him staring.
"Did you know before what it was?"
"I suspected but did not ask."
"How do you feel about its reveal to you?"
"…" Shinji said looking forward. Taking a pause to think about the question, he answered.
"I don't…feel anything regarding its status."
"…!?" she said blinking in surprise from his response. Paranoia seeped in as she thought his eyes would change. Feeling no aura difference, she looked at his face closely. His eyes were still the same color and no blood was tearing out. Slowly moving his eyes only, he looked at her with the corner of his eyes.
"Why don't you feel anything?"
"Because Miss Rana," he said looking back forward and continuing to eat. "He has been telling me what he is since the beginning."
"…" the female twin said blinking and looking down at her lunchbox.
'Since the beginning?' she thought putting the lid back on her bento. All of her appetite went away from how she felt and the new aspects to think about.
'Who's beginning though?' Rana wondered looking back at him. Hoping that he would answer her thoughts, the Third Child only turned his head toward her. About to open his mouth, she placed a hand on his mouth.
"I'm just tired Shinji. Excuse me," she said scooting a bit away. Placing her lunchbox in the center of the table, she lied down putting her head down on his right thigh.
"…" he said blinking watching her change positions. Feeling nothing from it and that his body was not reacting, he continued eating his bento.
Back at NERV HQ, Gendo and Kozo were in the conference room. SEELE announced another meeting regarding the previous Angel battle and status updates. After a short wait, the holograms came on showing the committee members.
[Let us begin] the SEELE leader stated from the other end of the table. [Commander Ikari.]
"Yes," Gendo replied. He was sitting at the opposite end with his hands interlaced in front of his mouth.
[Given the accounts and recorded documents of the previous Angel battle, the conclusion was that all three units had gone berserk. Is this correct?]
"Yes."
[Why was Unit-01 not used for this battle?]
"Given that it was still under research surveillance, it was not battle ready."
[Based on what it is capable of Commander, it can be battle ready regardless of what status it is in] a SEELE member mentioned.
"Despite what that Unit is capable of, there were three other Units that were available for battling the Angel."
[Make it noted Commander, all Units are to be ready for battle regardless the state it is in.]
"Very well."
[Moving to the next matter is the Units consuming the Angel. Did they eat the core?]
"Each partially consumed it, yes."
[What changes have occurred with them?]
"Under analysis of Dr. Akagi, the consumption of the Angel has given enhancements to each unit."
[Explain these enhancements] another member spoke.
"Increase combat capabilities."
[What of their battery supply?]
"No changes to their battery supply. Each unit still needs an external power source to operate," Gendo said seeing a couple of the SEELE members look less tense. Not changing an expression, he kept his smirk hidden behind his hands.
[The insertion of the S2 core in the US resulted in a rejection and explosion. How do we know that won't happen there Commander?]
"I have not inserted any S2 cores nor is there any future plans to. What the Units have currently has not changed."
[Find that hard to believe when three of the Units have increased all their combat capabilities from eating the Angel's core.]
"If you need further specification, documentation, and analysis on the matter, Dr. Akagi can be available to give you more intricate information."
[So you say Commander] the head SEELE member spoke from the other end. [We will be watching you more carefully. We will intervene if we find these combat enhancements to be tipping your power.]
"By all means," Gendo stated. After a brief status update on various matters, the hologram images began disappearing. Once the last one went off, the room's lights came on. Standing up and turning toward the Sub-Commander, Kozo blinked in surprise to see the Commander's expression.
"Sounds like SEELE is becoming more astray from your luck."
"…" Gendo said unable to remove his mocking smirk. "Appears that way."
"How do we proceed from here?"
"For now, continue the course that has been set," he said turning toward the room's double doors. The older man followed beside him.
"How should Dr. Akagi's recent action be dealt?"
"That matter will be on hold for now."
"Are you going to tell her after what Dr. Akagi did?"
"No. The development and usage of them does not matter anymore," the Commander said still wearing the smirk on his face. Getting to the doors, he fixed his expression and opened them.
"…" Kozo said biting his tongue hard as both left the conference room.
Back in the medical facility, there were a couple of people heading towards certain hospital rooms. Kaji walked toward one of the rooms with something in his hands. Finding the right door and stopping in front of it, he knocked a couple of times. Hearing a response, he entered.
"Hello hello," he said after entering in and seeing the patient in bed.
"Kaji!" Asuka said smiling brightly and getting out of bed. Jogging to him, she embraced him.
"Whoa…easy there. You should still be in bed."
"I knew you cared about me," the redhead said not letting go of him. Looking down, she saw a small boutique of yellow flowers in his hand.
"You brought me flowers?"
"I thought your room could use a little personality," he stated handing them to her. It got her to let go of him as she looked at the few flowers arranged.
"You were really worried about me," she said quietly. Smiling tenderly at them, she looked up and gave him a bright smile with red on her cheeks.
"I'll put these in a vase if there is one sitting around," the special investigator stated gently grabbing it back and looking around.
"Hee hee. Don't be silly, there is one in here!" she said turning around and heading toward a box. Following her, she pulled out a vase that seemed to be the right size.
"A get well package. That was thoughtful of someone," Kaji said smiling.
"Yes," the Second Child said giggling and putting her hands behind her. "Someone was very thoughtful."
"Did it say who sent it?" he asked taking the flowers out and putting them in the vase. His hands gripped the items tighter feeling the teen embrace him from behind and pressed herself on his back.
"You did silly," Asuka said blushing more and enjoying the sensation of hugging him.
'…what…?' the unshaven man thought blinking. Finish putting the flowers in the vase, he looked down at the box. Seeing a card, he reached in to grab it.
'Let's see…202…203…ah. 204,' Misato thought seeing the hospital room she wanted to enter. Knocking on the door, she heard the person inside call. Opening the door and entering, the Fourth Child's face immediately brightened.
"Ms. Misato!" Toji said smiling watching the Major close the door.
"Hi Toji! You seem to be in good spirits," she said smiling back. Walking closer to him, she saw him sitting up and bend his knees up a little.
"Y-Yeah, you could say that."
"How are you feeling?" she asked stopping at his bedside.
"P-Pretty good," he said with a wide smile and flexed his muscles.
"Hee hee. Looks like you are up and at'em," the Major said with a small giggle.
"…" Toji said keeping his wide smile and just nodded. "By the way, thanks for the box."
"Hmm? The box?" Misato asked then saw the package on the nightstand. "A get well package?"
"Y-Yeah. It really helps lift up your spirits, ya know?"
"Look at that," she stated going to it and looking inside. She saw the items inside the gave him a sly grin. It made him flinch as he froze in place.
"Somebody's got a secret admirer," she said walking back to his bedside and leaning toward him.
"Y-Yeah? L-Looks that way," he said interlacing his hands. Sitting up and looking down at the bed, he hugged his knees. A small blush was on his face. He flinched again feeling her getting beside him and whispering.
"Come on…tell me…who sent it?"
'Damn it!' he thought feeling it get harder and harder. 'I feel so lucky right know, but I can't control it!'
"T-The card is in the b-box," he stammered with a quiver of enjoyment. At the same time, he forgot where he put the photo.
'Too easy,' she thought smiling. Getting off the bed and going back to the box, she searched a little. Finding the card and opened it, she looked inside.
In another hospital room, Rei was reading a book that was inside the box. Turning the page and continuing to read, she heard three separate knocks at the door. Blinking and marking her place in the book, she glanced at the door.
"Come in," she said quietly. Hearing the door open silently, two people entered. Watching both give a small bow, she placed the small ribbon bookmark on the page and closed the book. A small smile came on her face staring at one of the two stoic expressed individuals.
"Greetings Miss Ayanami. May we come in?" Shinji asked.
"Hello Ikari…Rana…please come in," she said calmly. Watching him close the door, the female twin walked closer to her.
"Hi Ayanami. How are you feeling today?" Rana asked with a neutral face.
"I am fine. How are you two?"
"Fair for the most part," the female twin stated.
"Indeed. Mostly fair. Are you in any discomfort Miss Ayanami?"
"No Ikari…I feel…well," the First Child answered. Looking down at her bed, she felt a little embarrassed. Looking over at her nightstand, she grabbed the box and placed it in her lap. Moving her head back straight, she looked pleasantly at the Third child despite his stoic expression.
"Thank you…for the get well box…it made me…happy," she said quietly.
"You are welcome Miss Ayanami. Miss Rana picked out a couple of items as well," he stated with a small nod.
"…" Rei said blinking and looking at the female twin.
"I know we don't see eye to eye on something things," Rana said giving a small embarrassed smile. "But I don't like seeing you trapped in here. It doesn't feel the same when you aren't there with us at school or at the apartment."
"…" Ayanami said blinking in surprise then looked back at the Third Child.
"It does feel…empty with your absence Miss Ayanami," Shinji said blinking.
'…I…create a void…if I am not there,' she thought with her eyebrows up.
'…that means…that means…I'm…' the blue haired teen pondered the thought while looking down at the bed. A warm sensation spread through her chest and around her. Feeling tingly inside, her vision started to get a little blurry.
"Miss Ayanami?"
"A-Are you okay?"
"…" she said wiping her eyes. Feeling water on her fingers, she recognized it to be not sad tears. Feeling embarrassed to show her face, she curled her knees up and hugged them. Not knowing what expression was on her face, she hid it a little from them.
"…Thank…you…" she stated quietly. The corners of her mouth felt they were stretching up more than usual. "I…feel overwhelmed…at the moment...I appreciate this on such short notice."
"…?" both twins said tilting their heads a little.
"Short notice?" Rana asked moving her head back straight. "Don't you know what day it is?"
"…?" Rei said wiping her eyes again and bring her head up. Feeling her expression relax back to a curious one, she blinked at the two. About to open her mouth, she turned her head toward the Third Child. He grabbed out his mobile phone and turned it on. Instead of saying anything, he walked to her bedside and showed her the lit screen.